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Though they say then that we are fools

       Because we here do lie,

       I answer, goals are Christ his schools,

       In them we learn to die.

      25. 'Tis not the baseness of this state

       Doth hide us from God's face,

       He frequently, both soon and late,

       Doth visit us with grace.

      26. Here come the angels, here come saints,

       Here comes the Spirit of God,

       To comfort us in our restraints

       Under the wicked's rod.

      27. God sometimes visits prisons more

       Than lordly palaces,

       He often knocketh at our door,

       When he their houses miss.

      28. The truth and life of heavenly things

       Lift up our hearts on high,

       And carry us on eagles' wings,

       Beyond carnality.

      29. It take away those clogs that hold

       The hearts of other men,

       And makes us lively, strong and bold

       Thus to oppose their sin.

      30. By which means God doth frustrate

       That which our foes expect;

       Namely, our turning th' Apostate,

       Like those of Judas' sect.

      31. Here comes to our rememberance

       The troubles good men had

       Of old, and for our furtherance,

       Their joys when they were sad.

      32. To them that here for evil lie

       The place is comfortless,

       But not to me, because that I

       Lie here for righteousness.

      33. The truth and I were both here cast

       Together, and we do

       Lie arm in arm, and so hold fast

       Each other; this is true.

      34. This goal to us is as a hill,

       From whence we plainly see

       Beyond this world, and take our fill

       Of things that lasting be.

      35. From hence we see the emptiness

       Of all this world contains;

       And here we feel the blessedness

       That for us yet remains.

      36. Here we can see how all men play

       Their parts, as on a stage,

       How good men suffer for God's way,

       And bad men at them rage.

      37. Here we can see who holds that ground

       Which they in Scripture find;

       Here we see also who turns round

       Like weathercocks with wind.

      38. We can also from hence behold

       How seeming friends appear

       But hypocrites, as we are told

       In Scripture every where.

      39. When we did walk at liberty,

       We were deceiv'd by them,

       Who we from hence do clearly see

       Are vile deceitful men.

      40. These politicians that profest

       For base and worldly ends,

       Do now appear to us at best

       But Machiavellian friends.

      41. Though men do say, we do disgrace

       Ourselves by lying here

       Among the rogues, yet Christ our face

       From all such filth will clear.

      42. We know there's neither flout nor frown

       That we now for him bear,

       But will add to our heavenly crown,

       When he comes in the air.

      43. When he our righteousness forth brings

       Bright shining as the day,

       And wipeth off those sland'rous things

       That scorners on us lay.

      44. We sell our earthly happiness

       For heavenly house and home;

       We leave this world because 'tis less,

       And worse than that to come.

      45. We change our drossy dust for gold,

       From death to life we fly:

       We let go shadows, and take hold

       Of immortality.

      46. We trade for that which lasting is,

       And nothing for it give,

       But that which is already his

       By whom we breath and live.

      47. That liberty we lose for him,

       Sickness might take away:

       Our goods might also for our sin

       By fire or thieves decay.

      48. Again, we see what glory 'tis

       Freely to bear our cross

       For him, who for us took up his,

       When he our servant was.

      49. I am most free that men should see

       A hole cut thro' mine ear;

       If others will ascertain me,

       They'll hang a jewel there.

      50. Just thus it is we suffer here

       For him a little pain,

       Who, when he doth again appear,

       Will with him let us reign.

      51. If all must either die for sin

       A death that's natural;

       Or else for Christ, 'tis beset with him

       Who for the last doth fall.

      52. Who now dare say we throw away

       Our goods or liberty,

       When God's most holy Word doth say

       We gain thus much thereby?

      53. Hark yet again, you carnal men,

       And hear what I shall say

       In your own dialect, and then

       I'll you no longer stay.

      54. You talk sometimes of valour much,

       And count such bravely mann'd,

       That will not stick to have a touch

       With any in the land.

      55. If these be worth commending then,

       That vainly show their might,

       How dare you blame those holy men

       That in God's quarrel fight?

      56. Though you dare crack a coward's crown,

       Or quarrel for a pin,

       You dare not on the wicked frown,

       Nor speak against their sin.

      57.

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